AI in the Black Community: Building a Bridge to the Future

Raymond P., a 29-year-old teacher at an all-boys Catholic school in New Orleans, leans back in his chair, a thoughtful expression crossing his face. “My great aunt keeps hearing about ChatGPT, but she doesn’t know anything about it,” he says. “Meanwhile, my 14-year-old cousin asks me if I really make my students use it to correct their essays.” In his opinion, this generational disconnect is at the heart of the challenge and opportunity AI presents to the Black community.

Raymond isn’t your average tech enthusiast. He’s a former journalist with a passion for language and a deep commitment to his students. He sees AI not just as a futuristic tool, but as a vital resource for empowering his community. “I want Black people to grasp it, harness it, and teach it to everybody in our community,” he says with conviction. “We can build wealth and cultural experiences in this new realm.”

His own AI journey began with a sense of urgency in the fall of 2024. “Right before Christmas break,” he remembers, “I told the assistant principal, ‘We need to look into this ChatGPT thing. It’s about to be open for everybody, and the kids are already using it.’” He dove into the world of AI, exploring tools like Google Gemini, crafting lesson plans, generating social media posts for the Louisiana Landmarks Society, whose board he serves on, and even experimenting with AI-powered tools to help him learn Persian.

But Raymond’s enthusiasm is tempered by a healthy dose of skepticism. He’s quick to point out AI’s limitations, like when Google Gemini refused to write him a poem about Christmas, deeming it “political.” He has also found biases embedded in these systems, noting that they often provide “generic” descriptions of African Francophone countries compared to the detailed information readily available about France or Belgium.

This critical perspective informs his teaching. He encourages his students to use AI, but with discernment. “If you’re going to use it,” he tells them, “use it effectively.” He shows them how to refine their writing, improve pronunciation, and even generate coding for simple video games. But he also stresses the importance of understanding the “why” behind the AI’s suggestions. “Don’t just copy the sentence,” he cautions. “Read it, understand it, and then rewrite it in your own words.”

Raymond’s vision extends beyond the classroom. He says he’s concerned that members of older generations will fall prey to AI-generated scams and misinformation. “Imagine robocalls, but amplified,” he says. He also sees a risk of younger generations becoming overly reliant on AI, potentially hindering their critical thinking skills. “They’re looking for that quick answer,” he observes, “without going through the process that has existed since the beginning of academia.”

To counter these challenges, Raymond believes in the power of community-led education. He envisions AI workshops in churches, libraries, and community centers. He sees a need for more Black representation in the AI field, inspiring the next generation of innovators. “We need to bring AI to them,” he insists, “and show them the possibilities that exist.”

Raymond is not just teaching his students about AI; he’s shaping a future where AI empowers the Black community. He’s a testament to the potential for technology to drive economic mobility when coupled with a human-centered approach, critical thinking, and a deep commitment to community.

Maestro S., a 37-year-old Cleveland-based entrepreneur and managing director of the Iconic Expressions, a creative agency focusing on branding and website development, exudes an infectious energy as he speaks about AI. “It’s an equal playing field,” he declares with conviction. “It’s about accessibility, equality, a life hack!” For Maestro, AI isn’t just a technological advancement; it’s a tool for empowerment, a means to level the playing field and unlock opportunities for the Black community.

Maestro’s entrepreneurial journey is deeply intertwined with his exploration of AI. He’s a self-proclaimed “seven out of 10” on the AI knowledge scale, a testament to his dedication to learning and experimentation. He devours YouTube tutorials, seeking out both trending topics and practical advice. “I need somebody to break it down and show me things I would have never thought of,” he explains, highlighting the importance of visual learning and demonstration.

His AI toolkit is extensive and ever-evolving. ChatGPT, Claude, Midjourney, and even voice cloning tools like ElevenLabs are all part of his arsenal. He says he’s currently building an app using AI-powered development tools, a feat he says would have been financially out of reach without AI. “I’m working on a $10,000 project right now that I wouldn’t have been able to take on if I didn’t have access to ChatGPT or Claude,” he says.

But Maestro’s AI journey isn’t just about business. It’s deeply personal. He recounts how AI helped him navigate the complexities of a custody battle for his daughter, empowering him to file legal motions correctly and confidently. “ChatGPT helped me do what a lawyer would have charged me thousands for,” he says, his voice laced with gratitude.

This personal experience fuels his belief in AI’s potential to uplift the Black community. He laments the fear and skepticism about AI that he’s heard people express, including members of his own family, but remains optimistic. “It’s like the microwave,” he muses. “Once we see what it can do, we’ll realize it’s not going to kill us all.” He envisions a future where AI is a household term, seamlessly integrated into everyday life.

Maestro is particularly passionate about AI’s role in education. He advocates for its responsible integration into the curriculum, believing it can help bridge the gap between traditional learning and the demands of a modern, tech-driven world. He even plans to take his own daughter out of school for special AI-focused events, prioritizing real-world learning experiences.

However, he also recognizes the potential pitfalls. He worries about over-regulation stifling innovation and the need for AI systems to be more inclusive and representative of Black history and culture.

Maestro also underscores the urgent need for greater inclusion and representation within the AI workforce. He criticizes the lack of diversity in many tech events, emphasizing the need for more inclusive spaces and engaging presentations that resonate with the Black community. “We need to have people who are not afraid to be authentic and be themselves. . . . We need to have people who are able to entertain,” he aptly observes. “It is the delivery that’s the most important.”

Maestro’s entrepreneurial spirit and dedication to AI literacy are not only shaping his own success but also inspiring a broader movement within the Black community. He envisions a future where AI is not just a tool for the tech elite but also a resource for everyday people, empowering them to achieve economic mobility and thrive in a rapidly changing world.

He’s not just building a business; he’s building a legacy of access, education, and empowerment, ensuring that the Black community is not left behind in the AI revolution.

Ashanti B., a 22-year-old computer science student at Brooklyn College in New York, embodies the complex relationship that many young Black people have with AI. Her AI journey began with cautious curiosity. Initially, she questioned the value of AI tools like ChatGPT compared to traditional search engines. But as she experimented, she discovered AI’s potential for learning and productivity. Now she uses AI almost daily, particularly for coding assistance, research, and creative projects.

“One of the biggest impacts I’ve seen on my education is that it’s made it easier to understand complicated information,” Ashanti explains. “This semester, I had a computer architecture class and I feel like some of the concepts are definitely things that you just gradually grasp over time. So I would use AI for explanations. I feel like that was really helpful to me for helping me understand stuff.”

She also uses AI for job interview preparation, generating potential questions and refining her resume and cover letters.

But Ashanti understands AI’s limitations and potential pitfalls. She recounts a chilling incident where an AI bot using a voice that mimicked hers called her mother and tried to ensnare her in a scam.

She sees the potential for AI to drive economic mobility but also recognizes the inherent biases and ethical concerns these technologies present. “I think of robots, computers, generated images,” she says, “but also ethical concerns, safety concerns for people and the environment.”

Ashanti also points to the lack of diversity in AI development and the technology’s capacity to perpetuate harmful stereotypes. “AI needs to consider people of different backgrounds,” she insists. “It needs to be trained on ethical data.” To illustrate the problem, she shares her own experiences with AI image generators that often produce results based on white features, erasing her own Black identity.

Despite these concerns, Ashanti says she remains optimistic about AI’s potential to empower the Black community. She believes AI can help bridge educational gaps and provide access to new career opportunities. However, she emphasizes the need for responsible use and thoughtful integration.

Ashanti’s story highlights the importance of AI literacy, competencies, and critical engagement, particularly for young Black people navigating a rapidly changing career landscape. She advocates for increased representation in AI development and accessible training programs to ensure that the AI revolution doesn’t bypass the Black community.

“I feel like gearing more AI development programs toward Black students is a good idea,” she says. “Just spreading more awareness. . . and promoting those hidden computer science roles.”

Ashanti’s journey is a testament to the potential for AI to be a force for good, but only if it is developed and deployed ethically, with a focus on including everybody.

Basheer T., a 19-year-old entrepreneur and part-time instructor for a nonprofit organization teaching young men technical skills in Detroit, embodies the optimistic yet discerning perspective many young Black people have toward AI. His AI journey began with a sense of curiosity and a desire to test the limits of this new technology. “I was trying to confuse it intentionally,” he recalls, “but it didn’t work.”

This early exploration sparked a deeper interest, leading him to actively seek out information from various sources, including AI itself. “I’ll ask AI to explain itself to me sometimes,” he says, highlighting his proactive approach to learning.

Basheer’s understanding of AI is on point for his age group. He confidently rates his knowledge a of AI relatively high, acknowledging the complexities of the technology while demonstrating a firm grasp of its capabilities. He’s particularly drawn to the speed and versatility of AI, using it for everything from answering everyday questions to strategizing for his business clients.

“I don’t [have] to call [anybody] for answers for anything,” he says, emphasizing the convenience and accessibility AI provides. “I just go to the app and I can ask any question.” This reliance on AI extends to his personal and professional life, where he sees it as a tool for efficiency and problem-solving.

“It helps me with reasoning in real life. I try to think more logically about why a person said what they said or did what they did. Instead of getting my feelings attached to what they did or said, I’ll just think from a logical standpoint. Why would they do that? Why did they say that? AI helps me to understand other people’s perspectives better,” Basheer says.

He also says he was able to land a contract for his business because he was able to demonstrate his AI prowess.

But Basheer is also aware of AI’s potential downsides. He acknowledges the concerns surrounding privacy and the potential for misuse. “Eventually, somebody somewhere is going to figure out how to use AI with no restriction,” he warns. He believes that the ethical development and deployment of AI will be crucial in ensuring that its benefits are shared by all.

This commitment to equity is central to Basheer’s vision for AI’s future. He’s particularly concerned about the knowledge gap between those with resources and those without. “People who have a more money-driven background tend to know more about it,” he says, highlighting the need for accessible AI education and training within communities that are underserved by systems and institutions.

Basheer’s role as a part-time AI instructor for 13-to-16-year-olds through the technology training program The Hidden Genius Project underscores his commitment to bridging this gap. He teaches young people not just how to use AI, but how to create with it, fostering a sense of agency and empowerment. “I’m teaching them how to use AI to make pictures, videos, sounds, even codes or games,” he explains.

Basheer’s story is a testament to the power of AI to inspire and empower young Black people. He sees a future where AI is not just a tool for tech experts but a resource that benefits everyone, regardless of background. “As long as it stays ethical and accessible,” he says, “AI should not have too many restrictions or limits.”

Angel H., a 37-year-old mother of eight and an aspiring software developer in Cleveland, Ohio, approaches AI with a mix of practicality and apprehension. She sees not only the potential benefits but also the risks and challenges, particularly for the Black community. “It’s like, ‘If you can’t beat them, join them,’” she says, reflecting on her evolving perspective.

Angel’s AI journey is one that was driven by necessity, not passion. She turned to ChatGPT to help with her job search, using it to refine her resume and craft compelling cover letters.

“I don’t feel like I’m a resume writer,” she admits, noting the way AI can help highlight the unique skills and capabilities of people who don’t have specialized technical expertise. Her initial success with this approach sparked a deeper interest, leading her to explore AI’s potential to play a role in a future career as a developer.

“If I could incorporate AI into projects,” she says, “then that would be a valuable skill.” This pragmatic approach is characteristic of Angel’s view of AI. She sees it as a tool to be used, not a technology to be feared or worshipped. “It is a helpful tool when it’s used correctly,” she emphasizes.

However, Angel also voices concerns about the lack of control and transparency surrounding AI. “I don’t like my information just out there,” she says, echoing a common anxiety about data privacy and security. She’s also wary of the potential for AI to be used in discriminatory ways, particularly in the hiring process. “It puts people like me at a disadvantage,” she says, referring to the use of AI-powered resume-screening tools that may overlook candidates without the specific skills they’ve been programmed to seek.

This concern for equity extends to the Black community as a whole. Angel says she believes that AI education and access are crucial for ensuring that Black people are not left behind in this technological revolution. “We need more opportunities for us,” she says, arguing that there’s a need for programs that cater to the specific needs and challenges facing members of the Black community.

Angel’s own experience with a coding boot camp whose mission is to serve people of color underscores the importance of such initiatives. The boot camp, Urban City Codes, “had the resources available to us,” she recalls, citing support and guidance that helped her overcome obstacles and achieve her goals. She believes that similar programs focused on AI could empower Black people to embrace this technology and leverage its potential to advance economic mobility.

Angel’s perspective on AI is also shaped by her role as a mother. She’s cautious about her children’s use of the technology, particularly in education, emphasizing the importance of critical thinking and responsible use when she offers her daughter advice like this: “Don’t be trying to go and just get all your answers and just copy and paste.” But she also recognizes the potential benefits of AI for learning, advocating for its thoughtful integration into school curricula.

Stefan Y., a 63-year-old tech veteran from the Raleigh-Durham area in North Carolina, exudes a contagious passion for AI. But it isn’t just a fascination with the technology; it’s a deep-seated belief in its potential to empower the Black community and drive upward economic mobility. “I’m hyper-passionate about the possibilities,” he says, his voice filled with conviction. “And I’m extremely passionate about us as a Black community being not only involved, but at the head of developing the whole nine yards.”

Stefan’s AI journey began in December 2022, when ChatGPT burst onto the scene. He immediately recognized the technology’s transformative potential, but he also saw the lack of Black representation in its development and in the conversation around it. “Where are we in this?” he recalls asking himself. “Who are we?” Those questions pushed him to embark on a mission to bring AI literacy and access to the Black community.

He founded an online community for people who were new to ChatGPT, and it quickly grew to over 1,000 members, all eager to learn about this new technology. He dove deep into the ethical implications of AI, even challenging leading philosophers on their biases and blind spots. “It opened up a relationship with the director for the Future of Humanity Institute,” he says, highlighting his commitment to engaging with the broader AI community.

But Stefan’s focus remains firmly on his own community, including his 90-year-old mother—who, he says, has recently become intrigued by AI as she’s been slowly learning that it’s “not evil.” He sees AI as a “ubiquitous” force, already interwoven into everyday life, from spam filters to smart doorbells. “We need to stop the conversation around the fear of that big wall of AI,” he insists, advocating for a more nuanced and informed understanding of the technology.

This commitment to community extends to religious communities, a space Stefan sees as vital for navigating the AI revolution. “I consider myself a missionary in this spot,” he says, reflecting on his efforts to bridge the gap between faith and technology. He has led AI workshops for teenagers in churches, witnessing firsthand the capacity these tools have to inspire and empower. “I absolutely love the place where faith and the Black church is meeting AI,” he says.

Stefan’s passion for AI literacy even extends to his own family. He proudly recounts how his mother, initially skeptical, became an AI convert after witnessing its capabilities. “It started with a lesson plan,” he explains. “When it did it in about 30 seconds, her mind was blown.” This anecdote underscores Stefan’s belief that AI is for everyone, regardless of age or background.

Stefan’s approach is one of both empowerment and caution. He’s excited about the potential for AI to “illuminate lives” and “supercharge” entrepreneurship within the Black community. But he also acknowledges the risks of over-reliance and the need for ethical development and deployment. “The phone is the conduit, and the content that flows through it—both of them can be addictive,” he warns.

His vision extends beyond individual empowerment. He sees AI as a catalyst for collective progress, driving economic mobility and strengthening the Black community as a whole. He’s a bridge builder, connecting different generations, fostering dialogue between the Black community and the broader tech world, and advocating for greater representation in AI leadership and development.

“We need to be integrated into leadership, very high positions,” he emphasizes. “Don’t go having this global symposium. . . and we’re not even in that room.”